Spectacle case



Dec. 30, 1947. M. J. ROOT, JR

SPECTACLE CASE Filed Feb. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. OZ, J1:

Dec. 30, 1947. M. J. ROOT, JR 2,433,483

SPECTACLE CASE Filed Feb. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a J a J 0 J mdPatented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPECTACLE CASEMarshall J. Root, Jr., Geneva, N. Y., assignor to Shuron OpticalCompany, Inc., Geneva, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationFebruary 9, 1944, Serial No. 521,615

4 Claims. 1

, ceptacles and more particularly to eye glass cases the same beingbox-like containers commonly used for holding ophthalmic mountings. Theinvention concerns such a construction of eye glass or spectacle casesin which, as a. product, the case will be neat and attractive and can beassembled easily at relatively low manufacturing cost. The improvementsrelate primarily to the association of a body portion with a hinged lidso articulated thereon that the combination of the two parts willprovide a smooth and uninterrupted hinge line on the exterior andcorresponding facilities on the interior.

In the manufacture of articles of this kind the just mentionedconsiderations bring up the problem of covering a sheet steel orsimilarly formed pair of body and lid parts with a layer of leather,imitation leather or fabric or like soft covering on the xteriorthereof, the same being brought into the hinge region to also adequatelycover the knuckles thereof while still not interfering with a free hingemovement. The object of the present invention is to devise very simplemeans, consistent with the general plan of assembly, for

accomplishing these results in such manner that.

at the hinge line particularly, the covering there will still beinconspicuous both exteriorly and interiorly with respect to the rawedges necessarily terminating at this point.

As a simplification of the general object stated in both applicationsthis invention is an improvement upon the invention disclosed in thepending companion application of Carl R. Jerry, Ser. No. 447.695 filedJune 19, 1942 (now Patent No.

2,376,487, issued May 22, 1945) and assigned to the same interest as isthis invention and application.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvementsand combination of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a spectacle case constructed inaccordance with and illustrating Y one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a much enlarged transverse section thereof taken on theline2-2 of Figure 1, the

thereof. the same showing the interiorrear wall of the detached lid infront elevation;

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary transverse section through the hingeportion the same constitutlng an enlargement of a partof the showing ofFigure 2;

Figure '6 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of a modified hingeformation of the knuckle and pintle of one of the elements, namely,

the lid;

Figure 7 is a detail section taken on the line of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a detail section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a detail section similar to Figure 7 but taken through hingeknuckle elements of both lid and body;

Figure 10 is a similar section of the knuckle element of the body onlybefore it is formed around the pintle;

Figure 11 is a detail section similar to Figure 7 of a furthermodification; and

Figure 12 is a detail section similar to Figure 9 of the modification ofFigure 11.

Similar reference numerals in the several views indicate the same parts.

The spectacle or similar case of this invention comprises a body portionand an articulated lid both stamped out of sheet metal. The hinge lineis at the rear and a problem resides in so constructing this hinge thatit will have a neat appearance on the exterior, and can be rapidlyassembled in connection with an actuating spring to hold the lid ineither opened or closed position and yet will in general avoid theprovision of fastening means or parts projecting inside the case. Suchspectacle cases are usually produced with a leather, fabric or similarcovering and another consideration involved in my present invention iscombining the rear raw edges of these coverings on both the body and lidso that they are not only concealed at the hinge line but are secured orclamped in and by the hinge assembly itself. In other words, in thepractice of my invention, the body portion and the lid portion of thespectacle case are first produced with this covering material or outerlamination attached,

they are assembled in this condition and, finally, such hinge connectionis completed and the before mentioned actuating spring added. But all ofthese operations are conducted in a way that does not lead to thecovering or finishing material being scratched or marred by the assemblytools and the assembly operations, yet the awkward procedure ofassembling the steel case and then attaching the covering is avoided.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I indicates generally thesheet metal body and 2 the sheet metal lid of a spectacle case of theusual Or any desired contour. At the front side the body has a reentrantlip 3 over which the bent down forward edge 4 of the lid engages. Ingeneral, the case assumes the closed position of Fig ure 2 or an openposition on a swing of a little over degrees, as usual, in either ofwhich posi-- tions it is selectively held by the actuating springarrangements hereinafter described.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 (referring momentarily moreparticularly toFigure 3) the rear edge of lid 2 is dividedintegral'lyinto a plurality oi projecting spaced tongues.

The spaces between the tongues are indicated at 6 and the center tongue5a: is wider than-the others for a reason that will appear later. I, Alloi the tongues are bent intoeyes constituting knuckles that enclose ahinge 'pintle Band in this embodiment they are rolled from the insideout so that the terminals 1 thereof will be on th'e outside or rear ofthe case, but neither the loops or hence the pintle projects rearwardlybeyond the plane of the rear wall 9 hi the lid and the rear wall 10 0fthe body portion.

Preferably before assemblage with thepintle, the leather fabric or othersimilar finishing covering material H is applied as by cementingit on.Its rear raw edge is slit to also constitute alternated long and shorttongues but not necessaril'y with spaces between. The covering tonguesthat coincide with the intervals 6 between the tongues 5 are the longerones and are carried therethrough, around the raw metal edges andcemented securely relatively highfon the inside as indicated at 12particularly in Figure The other tongues [2:12 that coincide with theknuckle tongues are shortened to a length whereby they reach only to thepi'ntle' 8 and they are applied be 1' fore the knuckles or the eyesthereof are closed so that when the knuckles are closed their terminalspinch the covering and clamp its raw edges firmly in an enclosed manner,whereby the raw edges are concealedand protected against the i scutfingdamage that so often results from an exposed edge no matter how good theadhesive used may be. I

The body portion [with its covering 13 is sirnilarly formed andassembled in a complementary manner. The knuckles are indicated at Malter hating in the openings 6 and the long covering tonguesintermediate the knuckles M are indicated at IS in Figures 2 and 5.

The mode of constructing and assembling lends i 1 itself 'to theapplication of the actuating spring that .holds the case securely,selectively, in the customary open or closed positions. The springproper is constituted by'a bar or resilient wire [5 located on theinside of wall iii of the body el'ei merit and extending generallylongitudinally of the pintle 8; Its ends are anchored in angular offsetsor Dockets I! on such rear wall ill of body element I. Hooked over thecenter of the spring is a lower lip 18 on a bowed clip [9 that spans thepintle 8 and the hinge connection in general. Its other similar lip2'il'is hooked over a ledge portion 2i on a bracket plate 22 spot weldedor otherwise secured to the rear wall 9 of lid portion 2. It becomesobvious that, as the eye glass case is opened and closed, the resultantline of force exerted by the spring [6 and the clip i9 (which in itselfmay also have spring action) passes through the center of the hinge andhence holds the lid and body in either of said positions.

The structure shown in Figures 6 to 10 is an elaboration of that ofFigures 1 tot; vtor again the knuckle tongues 5e are rolled .rearwardlyor: from the inside out, theopening being outside.- The tips, insteadofabutting the covering tongue 12c edgewise of the metal are extendedparallel with it at 29 but still clamp it although along a broadersurface. Figure 10 .shows the greater length of atknuckle tongue (on thebodyelementl) before 4 it is finally formed and clamped against the corresponding cover tongue.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 11 and 12, the knuckle tongues 5 arerolled inward, so that "the knuckle tongues are looped from the outside'of th'e case toward the inside.

The covering tongues 12f are wrapped around the knuckle tongues 5through the spaces 61 to the inside also and. are gripped by the knuckleterminals 3| which are doubled "back on themselves. This is adeparture-from the idea of terminating the covering tongues on theexterior but retains the feature-of securing and protecting their tipsin the hinge knuckles themselves.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a sheet metal spectacle case or the like,embodying anarticulated lid and'a bodyp'o'rtion hinged togetherby'ineans of a'pintle and integral alternately spaced knuckle tonguesproceeding from the rear walls of said elements and grasping the'pintle', of outer flexible covering material on the lid and bodyportion having-certain. alternated portions of its rear rawedgesIcon'cea-Ied: and clamped by the free ends of 'theiknuckle tongues.

2'. The-combination with a'sheet metal -spectaclepase for the like,embodying an articulated lid and a body portion hinged together by;means of apintl e and integral alternately spaced knuckle tonguesproceeding from the rear walls of said elementsand' grasping thepiritl'e, of outer flexible coveringmaterial onthe' lid an'd bodyportion havingcertainal-ternated portidnso'f its rear rawedges-concealed andi'clamped-by the free ends of. the knuckle tongues onthe exterior of the case.

3.. The. combinationwith a sheet metal case or the like, embodying'anarticulated lid and a bodypor'ti'onhinged together bymeans of a pintl'eandintegral alternately' spaced knuckle tongues proceeding from the rearwalls of said elements andgra'sping'the pintl'dcf outer flexiblecovering material. on the lid'and body'porti'on having'certainalternated'portions of its rear rawedges concealed and clampedby the ire'e ends of the knuckleton'gues' on the interiorof the case.

4'. In ashinged" spectaclecase orthe' like, com prising a lid and abo'dyportion' hinged together by apintle, the combination with integralalternately-spaced knuckle tongues on said lid and body portionproceeding" fromtne rear walls Number Name Date 1,364,594: Thomas Jan.4, 1921 1522 473 Kisling July 30', 1929 2,376,487 Jerry- May 22, 1945'FQREIGNw PATENTS Number Country Date

